Container mover-means for semi-trailer platforms



March 22, 1966 M A, FULLER 3,241,859

CONTAINER MOVER-MEANS FOR SEMI-TRAILER PLATFORMS Filed Nov. l2, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet l @D f7/l. 475

wmp Mr iii-1 'iV/J n March 22, 1966 M. A. FULLER 3,241,859

CONTAINER MOVER-MEANS FOR SEMI-TRAILER PLATFORMS Filed NOV. l2, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 22, 1966 M A, FULLER 3,241,859

CONTAINER MOVER-MEANS FOR SEMI-TRAILER PLATFORMS Filed Nov. l2, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O 3,241,859 CUNTAENER MVElR-MEANS EUR SEMl-TRAELER PLATFRMS Marvin A. Fuller, Benton Harbor, Mich., assigner to Whir1pool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Fitted Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,924 8 Claims. (Cl. 2230-423) This invention relates to a movable transport apparatus such as a truck having a pair of relatively movable containers thereon with normally `adjacent ends with means for moving the containers relative to each other to expose their adjacents ends.

In US. Patent 3,183,683 there is disclosed and claimed a container that is adapted to cont-ain a preserving atmosphere for storing animal and plant materials in which this atmosphere is generated by an apparatus of the type disclosed and claimed in U.S. Patent 3,102,777. Both patents are assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

These controlled .atmosphere containers are easily transportable as to the place where the materials are gathered for storage and `from this place to a place of disposal such yas a market for the materials. The present invention provides a transport apparatus in which two or more of the containers may be ltransported with the sides such as an end of one container closely adjacent a side such as an end of the other container but in which the containers may be separated when desired by relative movement to make these adjacent sides accessible.

One of the lfeatures of this invention is to provide an improved transport apparatus having a bed and mover means for moving the same in combination with a support movable with respect to the bed, means for releasably attaching a container to the `support for movement therewith and means for selectively attaching the support to the bed for movement of the apparatus by mover means force applied to the support and for releasing the suport from the bed so that the mover means will move the support and the container relative to the bed.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Orf the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a truck embodying the invention and having a pair of containers thereon with one end of each adjacent an end of the other.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE l but showing the containers separated.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a movable support and associated structure to which the front container of the two containers shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is releasably attached.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the support in extended position corresponding to the forward container position of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 5 5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 7 7 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 8--8 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional elevational View taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIGURE 6.

In highway transport apparatus, such -as the trailer truck 10 shown in the accompanying drawings, it is customary to employ a trailer 1v1 drawn by a mover means such as the illustrated truck tractor 12. The conventional trailer utilizes a bed portion 13 that includes side parallel beams 14 each having a `ilat upper iiange 15 that 3,241,597 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 are .coplanar and provided with downwardly turned outer edges 16. 'The coplanar anges 15 form slide ways for receiving cooperating slide ways 17 each having a downturned outer edge 18 that engage the outer surfaces of the edges 16.

The parallel slide ways 17 which are slidably supported on the bed slide way flanges 15 form a part of a support 19. The suport 19 includes in addition to the parallel slide ways 17 connecting beams 20 forming an X-frame. The inner ends of the four beams 20 are attached to a centrally located metal cross bar 5t). Beneath bar S0 is a vertical bar 21. Bar 21, which is of circular cross section, has attached to its lower end a metal block 22 and beyond the block 22 a king pin 23. The block 22 is slidably supported on a metal plate 24 whose front end is attached to a cr-oss beam 25 extending between the bottom flanges 26 of the side I-beams 14 of the truck bed 13. The rear end of the plate 24 is similarly attached to a similar rear transverse beam 27 extending between the flanges 26.

The plate 24 is provided with an elongated slot 28 extending generally lengthwise of the bed 13 and through which the pin 23 extends so as to be beneath the plate 24. With this arrangement the suppor-t 19 including the block 22 is slidable back and forth longitudinally of the bed by force exerted on the pin 23. During this motion the block 22 slides on the plate 24 and the parallel slide ways 17 slide on the parallel bed flanges 15 which form supporting slide ways.

In order to guide the movement of the block 22 in its forward and rear path there are provided parallel side guides 29 and 30 mounted on the plate 24. The slide ways 17 are guided in their path of movement by the outwardly turned down edges 13 engaging ithe edges 16 of the bed flanges 15.

Extending transversely across the support 19 between the slide ways 17 is a metal bar 5t) which intersects the X-frame in the area of the cylindrical bar 21. This cross bar 5t) has mounted on its top lsurface an elongated block 31 attached thereto as by welding. As can be seen in FIGURES 3 and 4 the block 31 is shorter and narrower than the bar 30 to which it is attached.

As sho-wn in FIGURES 1 and 2 the truck trailer 11 is adapted to haul a pair o-f containers 32 and 33. The front container 32, as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 7, has `a bottom 34 provided with a pair of parallel side support channels 35 each adapted to rest on a slide way 17 which forms a part of the support 19. During transportation the bottom of each container 32 may be releasably tied to the bed 13 of the truck by any means desired.

Extending down from the bottom 34 of the front container 32 is a pair of spaced cross members 36 adapted to receive the elongated block 31 between them as is shown in FIGURE 5. These cross members 36 thereby releasably secure the container 32 on the support 19 so that when the support is moved forwardly and re-arwardly the container 32 will move with it.

Slidalble within the guide bar 3) for the block 22 is a latch 37 that has a dovetail sliding connection to the guide bar 311 as shown in FIGURE 5. This latch is urged in extended position by a spring 38 which is shown in FIGURE 7 but is omitted from FIGURE 5 for clarity of illustration. When so urged the latch 37 engages the front of the `slidable block 22 to hold it against forward movement. In order to retract the latch 37 from this engagement with t-he slide block 22 there is provided a latch release lock 39 that slides within an enlarged portion 40 of guide 30 and has a dovetail connection therewith, as shown in FIGURE 8. The forward end of the release lock 39 has an inclined cam surface 41 which is yadapted to enter the open interior 42 of latch 37 and engage a similarly sloped cam surface 43 therein. Movement of the release block 39 to retract the latch 37 is provided by a bar 44 having a handle 45 on its forward end beyond the transverse beam 25. This bar 44 has a retainer 46 for engaging the front of the beam 25 to lock the bar 44 in fully extended position.

The operation of the device is as follows: With the parts in the position shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 5-9 the tractor 12 pulls the trailer 11 in the usual manner by force exerted on the king pin 23. The block 22 cannot slide forward because of the latching position of the latch 37, as shovm in FIGURE 6. Thus the containers 32 and 33 are in their normal adjacent position and the truck and trailer combination functions in the customary manner. When it is desired to separate the containers 32 and 33 to permit access to the adjacent ends, as shown in FIGURE 2, the brakes of the rear wheels 47 of the trailer are set and the latch is retracted to the position shown in FIGURE 4 by pulling forward on the bar 44 rand hooking the retainer 46 over the front of the bar 25, as shown in FIGURE 4. This pulling forward of the bar 44 pulls the release block 39 forwardly so that the cam surface 41 of the block acting against the cam surface 43 of the latch 37 retracts the latch 37 against the urging of the spring 38. Then the tractor 12 may be moved forwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 2 and this forward movement acting through the pin 23, slidable block 22, cylindrical bar 21, support 19 and block 31 will slide the container 32 forwardly while it is resting on the side slide ways 17.

When it is desired to return the containers to their initial position it is only necessary to back up the truck tractor 12 with the result that the above operation will be reversed and the block 22 will be moved rearwardly to the usual position shown in FIGURES 3 and 6. The extent of rearward movement will be limited by the stop 48, at which point the latch 37 can again be urged into the block 22 intercepting position as shown in FIGURE 6 by moving the release block 39 rearwardly by means of the handle 45. As soon as this is done the spring 38 will move the latch into slide block 22 intercepting position. The truck and trailer unit is then ready to move again with the containers in their normal positions as shown in FIG- URE 1.

Guides 29 and 30 serve to guide the movement of the block 22 and thereby the container 32. Slot 28 limits the extent of forward movement.

As can be seen from the above description, the struct-ure of this invention is simple yet effective to utilize the power of the tractor to move the front container forwardly to provide access to the adjacent ends of the containers. Then, before the truck is moved, the power of the tractor is utilized to return the front container to its normal position adjacent the rear container.

Having described my invention as related to the ernbodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. In a transport apparatus having a bed and mover means for moving the same, apparatus comprising: a support; means mounting said support on said bed for movement With respect to said bed; means for attaching a container to said support for movement therewith; means for connecting said mover means to said support; releasable latch means for selectively connecting said support to said bed and disconnecting said support from said bed, said transport apparatus thereby being moved by said mover means by Way of said bed, support and latch means and said support and container being moved by said mover means relative to said bed when said latch means is disconnected; and means for locking said bed against movement during said moving of said support and container relative to said bed when said latch means is disconnected.

2. In a transport apparatus having a bed and mover means for moving the same, apparatus comprising: a support; means mounting said support on said bed for movement thereon in the same general direction as the direction of movement of said mover means; means for attaching a container to said support for movement therewith; means for connecting said mover means to said support; releasable latch means for selectively connecting said support to said bed and disconnecting said support from said bed, said transport apparatus thereby being moved by said mover means by way of said bed, support and latch means; and means for locking said bed against movement when said support is thusly disconnected from said bed by said releasable latch means.

3. In a transport apparatus having a bed and mover means for moving the same, apparatus comprising: a support; means mounting said support on said bed for sliding movement thereon in a path between a retracted position and an extending position, said path extending in substantially the same general direction as the direction of movement of said mover means; means for attaching a container to said support for movement therewith; means for connecting said mover means to said support; releasable latch means for selectively connecting said support to said bed and disconnecting said support from said bed, said transport apparatus thereby being moved by said mover means by way of said bed, support and latch means; and means for locking said bed against movement when said support is thusly disconnected from said bed by said releasable latch means.

4. In a transport apparatus having a bed and 4mover means for moving the same, apparatus comprising: a support; means mounting said support on said bed for sliding movement thereon in a path between a retracted position and an extending position, said path extending in substantially the same general direction as the direction of movement of said mover means; means for attaching a container to said support for movement therewith; means for connecting said mover means to said support; latch means on said bed movable between a position engaging said support for preventing substantial movement thereof relative to said bed and a second position out of engagement with said support to permit movement thereof relative to said bed, said transport apparatus thereby being moved by said mover means by way of said bed, support and latch means when said latch is in said engaging position, and said support and container being moved by said mover means relative to said bed when said latch means is disconnected and in said second position; and means for locking said bed against movement during said moving of said support and container relative to said bed when said latch means is disconnected.

5. In a transport apparatus having a bed and mover means for moving the same, container manipulating apparatus, comprising: a rst container on said bed; a support; means mounting said support on said bed for sliding movement thereon in a path between a retracted position and an extending position, said path extending in substantially the same general direction as the direction of movement of said mover means; means for attaching a second container to said support for movement therewith, said containers having adjacent ends when said support is in said retracted position with the ends being spaced apart when the support is in said extended position; means for connecting said mover means to said support; latch means 0n said bed movable between a position engaging said support for preventing substantial movement thereof relative to said bed and a second position out of engagement with said support to permit movement thereof relative to said bed, said transport apparatus thereby being moved by said mover means by Way of said bed, support and latch means when said latch is in said engaging position, and said support and container being moved by said mover means relative to said bed when said latch means is disconnected and in said second position; and means for locking sa-id bed against movement during .said moving of said support and container relative to said bed when said latch means is disconnected.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said attaching means comprises interengaging means on said support and said second container for releasing said second container from said support by only lifting the second container from said support.

'7. In a transport apparatus having a bed and mover means for moving the same, container manipulating apparatus, comprising: a first container on said bed; a support; means mounting said support on said bed for sliding movement thereon in a path between a retracted position and an extending position, said path extending in substantially the same general direction as the direction of movement of said mover means; means for attaching a second container to said support for movement therewith, said containers having adjacent ends when said support is in said retracted position with the ends being spaced apart when the support is in said extended position; means for connecting said mover means to said support; latch means on said bed movable in a path extending generally transversely to said support path between a position engaging said support for preventing substantial movement thereof relative to said bed and a second position out of engagement With said support to permit movement thereof relative to said bed, said transport apparatus thereby being moved by said mover m-eans by Way of said bed, support and latch means when said latch is in said engaging position, and said support and container being moved by said mover means relative to said bed when said latch means is disconnected and in said second position; means for thusly moving said latch means; and means for locking said bed against movement during said moving of said support and container relative to said bed when said latch means is disconnected.

8. In a transport apparatus having a bed and mover means for moving the same, container manipulating apparat-us, comprising: a first container on said bed; a support; means mounting said support on said bed for sliding movement thereon in a path between a retracted position and an extending position, said path extending in substantially the same general direction as the direction of movement of said mover means; means for attaching a second container to said support for movement therewith, said containers having adjacent ends when said support is in said retracted position with the ends being spaced apart when the support is in said extended position; means for connecting said mover means to said support; latch means on said bed movable in a path extending generally transversely to said support path between a position engaging said support for preventing substantial movement thereof relative to said bed and a second position out of engagement with said support to permit movement thereof relative to said bed, said transport apparatus thereby being moved by said .mover means by Way of said bed, ysupport and latch means when said latch is in said engaging position, and said support and container being moved by said mover relative t0 said bed when said latch means is disconnected and in said second position; means for thusly moving said latch means comprising a movable member having a cam surface engaging a surface on said latch for moving the latch from said 'engaging position to said second position; and means for locking said bed against movement during said moving of said support .and container relative to said bed when said latch means is disconnected.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,163,306 12/1964 Bennett et al 280-415 X LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examinez'. 

1. IN A TRANSPORT APPARATUS HAVING A BED AND MOVER MEANS FOR MOVING THE SAME, APPARTUS COMPRISING: A SUPPORT; MEANS MOUNTING SAID SUPPORT ON SAID BED FOR MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID BED; MEANS FOR ATTACHING A CONTAINER TO SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH; MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID MOVER MEANS TO SAID SUPPORT; RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID SUPPORT TO SAID BED AND DISCONNECTING SAID SUPPORT FROM SAID BED, SAID TRANSPORT APPARATUS THEREBY BEING MOVED BY SAID MOVER MEANS BY WAY OF SAID BED, SUPPORT AND LATCH MEANS AND SAID SUPPORT AND CONTAINER BEING MOVED BY SAID MOVER MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID BED WHEN SAID LATCH MEANS IS DISCONNECTED; AND MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID BED AGAINST MOVEMENT DURING SAID MOVING OF SAID SUPPORT AND CONTAINER RELATIVE TO SAID BED WHEN SAID LATCH MEANS IS DISCONNECTED. 